UK government suffers 15th defeat on flagship Brexit bill

Peers in the House of Lords voted 294 to 244 in favor of an amendment to the government’s flagship Brexit legislation requiring that EU “environmental principles and standards” be maintained after the U.K. leaves the bloc.

The cross-party amendment, which has former Tory Cabinet minister John Gummer (now Lord Deben) as one of its backers, requires the government to take steps to ensure that Brexit,“does not result in the removal or diminution of any rights, powers, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, remedies and procedures that contribute to the protection and improvement of the environment.”

It also demands primary legislation to establish an “independent body” that would ensure public authorities comply with environmental laws.

Speaking in favor of the amendment in a debate preceding the vote, Lord Deben, who is chair of the Climate Change Committee said: “After we leave the European Union we want the same protection as we were promised. And this is the simple way of achieving this.”

The zoologist and former President of the British Science Association Baron Krebs, who moved the amendment, said: “This amendment is about caring for the future of our grandchildren and it’s not just about birds, bees, butterflies and wildflowers.”

Today’s defeat — at the third reading of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill — is the 15th for the government on the key Brexit bill. Previous defeats include requiring the government to report to parliament on steps it has taken to negotiate a customs union with the EU; removing the Brexit date from the face of the bill; and on continued membership of the European Economic Area.

The bill now returns to the House of Commons, where MPs can vote to reverse the Lords’ amendments.

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EU doublestandards

Politico – you do realise that the House of Lords can ‘defeat’ nothing the government does, right? They have no power to enforce or mandate legislative change whatsoever and are just a talking shop for overprivileged elites – rather like the European Parliament. Come to think of it, that could be why most of us despise them so much.

Posted on 5/16/18 | 7:10 PM CEST

xyc .

Why take offence with politico over the term “defeat”, a quick search will show you that all papers across the spectrum, liberal to rw, using the exact same expression, the gruan, BBC, indy, bloomberg, daily express, brexit central, the sun, standard etc.. all used the same term to reflect the same news…

Posted on 5/16/18 | 8:09 PM CEST

Anthony Chambers

Well she will have to get up and shake off her problems.

Posted on 5/16/18 | 9:38 PM CEST

Anthony Chambers

If our prime minister can solve this she will be the match of thatcher.

Posted on 5/16/18 | 9:42 PM CEST

Peter Monta

It reminds me of that hilarious scene in Monty Python’s Life Of Brian where the People’s Front of Judea are hashing out why they want to get rid of the Romans. Who are terrible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7HmhrgTuQ. Except for the the aquaduct, the roads , sanitation ……. what have the Romans ever done for us?